Usage Note
Iglap conveys extreme brevity of time, most often in the phrase 'sa isang iglap' meaning in a flash or in the blink of an eye. It evokes something happening so quickly it is almost imperceptible, and appears in both spoken and literary Tagalog.
Examples
" Sa isang iglap, ubos na. "
Natural Translation
In a flash, it was gone.
Literal Translation
In one brief-moment, used-up already.
" Sa isang iglap, nawala siya. "
Natural Translation
In a brief moment, he/she disappeared.
Literal Translation
In one brief-moment, lost he/she.
" Sa isang iglap lamang ay nagbago ang lahat, at hindi na muling nakabalik sa dati ang aming buhay. "
Natural Translation
In just a brief moment everything changed, and our life never returned to the way it was.
Literal Translation
In one brief-moment only is changed the everything, and not anymore again returned to before the our life.
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